Developer Chat

Gridiron Dynasty

The purpose of this chat is to answer any questions that you may have regarding Gridiron Dynasty -- recruiting, game planning, upcoming features, etc.

When can we expect firings to be activated and what kind of standards will be set for Elite, BCS, and non-BCS schools? (stalagna - Hall of Famer - 2:55 PM)

We are currently working on the firing aspect of GD (and HD) and want to have this in the game very soon. We have not defined the exact standards for the various schools, but your job status within your office will provide you with feedback to let you know if you are considered to be doing a good job or not.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean here...If you mean preventing a DIA team from recruiting a player who is projected to go at the DII or DIII level, no there not any plans to prevent this.

Now that Wilkinson is full at the DIII level, can you tell us when you plan to open World Robinson (or Gagliardi, or whatever)? (zlionsfan - Hall of Famer - 3:00 PM)

If both Leahy and Stagg sellout this time through new coach signups, then we will be opening another world to help get people who are waiting into the game.

How difficult would it be to have one ( or more) worlds where D1A has a playoff insted of the bowl system? (pudley4 - Hall of Famer - 3:02 PM)

We don't want to have 2 different versions of the sim, which this would require -- it is not a matter of difficulty. However, DIA college football is unique in that it does not have a playoff system (some people hate this, some people love it) and we don't want to lose that distinctive feature. It provides for the most exciting regular season of any sport.

Will there be a time when we have the chance to set the depth at OL,DL,and even LB past 6 players? (louiescards - Hall of Famer - 3:03 PM)

This is something that we may add in the future.

Are there any plans to add an additional check box to adjust playcalling (more runs) for end of the game when you are winning (run out the clock)? (randallball - Hall of Famer - 3:06 PM)

No, but the sim will call the most run oriented plays within the bounds of your game plan when you are winning late and trying to run out the clock. If you have a "heavy run" play and a "heavy pass" play in your game plan, the sim would call the "heavy run" play. Teams that choose to setup their game plans to only (or very heavily) pass, will have a hard time running out the clock with this setup...but that is a pitfall of a pass first offense.

Do you have any plans to let us set our defense by down and distance? (foleyr - Hall of Famer - 3:08 PM)

We have plans to change/enhance the defensive side of game planning --- setting by down is a likely addition...I doubt setting by distance will be.

I have a question about O linemen. Is there a difference between an effective run blocker vs. an effective pass blocker? Should I focus more on strength if I want to run the ball? (mumcoach - Hall of Famer - 3:09 PM)

The same rating categories are important for both run blocking and pass blocking -- strength is important for each.

Are we going to see an increase in the amount of statistics that are kept? Special teams, recovered fumbles, OL stats. (az4lifenotr - Hall of Famer - 3:10 PM)

Adding in more stats is something that we want to do in the future.

When are you going to rename the notre dame box? (kyleboon - Hall of Famer - 3:12 PM)

NEVER

How are OL selected for All American Teams? (blackmink18 - Hall of Famer - 3:13 PM)

A combination of sacks allowed, the success of the offense/team, and ratings.

There has been mention of additional elites at the D1A level. Will this be based on real-life success of certain programs or success in the specific Worlds of this game? If UNC has consistent long-term success in Rockne, for example, would they ever become an Elite in that world? (hwaters397 - Hall of Famer - 3:15 PM)

There aren't any plans to add more elites.

As D-IA fills up more with human coaches, are there any plans to make more D-IA recruits available? (randallball - Hall of Famer - 3:16 PM)

No, the number of DIA level recruits available is pretty good. A slight realignment of how they are distributed across the positions may be coming though.

You've said in the past that recruit visibility is dependent upon the entire history of the school. Is the record, in turn, weighted in any way toward the past few seasons or the season immeidately past? (cbriese - Hall of Famer - 3:17 PM)

Yes, the most recent seasons get more weight than seasons further back....eventually, a season can be far enough removed as to have no impact.

Will we see Juco or possibly Transfer players added at some point? (taloncarde - Hall of Famer - 3:18 PM)

I don't think Juco players will be added anytime soon, but transfers are a distinct possibility.

What are the chances of the SIM teams becoming "significantly" more competitive so that it is not an automatic blowout win for the humans? Currently, there is very little challenge. (gmckel - Hall of Famer - 3:19 PM)

We want the sim teams to have talented players so that they are attractive for coaches to take over....we don't want them winning championships. We want you to!

Does one style of play, aggressive or conservative, have generally better succes against another style of play? That is, is it better over the course of many plays to use conservative defensive settings against a conservative offense? (bkpeters - Hall of Famer - 3:20 PM)

Every style of play can have success against every other style of play -- it really comes down to the players you have on your team and what fits them best.

Is the game performance of a player based solely upon his ratings in the 12 categories (discounting, of course, game plans), or are there hidden factors? Is it possible to have two replica RBs, for example, put them in the same formations against the same competition, but one will perform better than the other over the long haul? (cbriese - Hall of Famer - 3:22 PM)

I'm not sure what you mean by hidden factors, but a players performance is effected by team execution as a whole in addition to his individual ratings.

What do you have in development that you are most excited about releasing? and when do you anticipate it going 'live'? (dlayers - Hall of Famer - 3:23 PM)

Coach firings....hopefully it will go live within the next month or two.

Is there any chance we can get a non-flash version of the header (or at least one where the links are straight HTML?) Sometimes it's a little slow loading and it's problematic for those of us who open multiple windows or use tab browsing. (dlayers - Hall of Famer - 3:25 PM)

...blame the graphics people...I hate flash myself.

I'm sure many would like a final answer on the blocking back question: is it always the 2nd back, even in wishbone, or is it always the last back in the set? (randallball - Hall of Famer - 3:26 PM)

It is always the last back in the set.

Are there any plans to increase the defensive control in this game? Let's face it, third and long is NOT the same as first and long. I realize that many of the users love the offense, but there are a large number of users that like defense and want more control. (pb9617 - All-Star - 3:27 PM)

Yes....and control by down is a likely addition.

Is there any chance that you will address the collusion and unfair practices going on in GD? I mean explicitly address them with referencable punishment? (pb9617 - All-Star - 3:28 PM)

A lot of D1AA recruits keep getting taken by D1A schools because of the lack of D1A recruits, will more recruits be added to D1A? This is really hurting D1AA. (michfan2123 - Hall of Famer - 3:32 PM)

Recruits that showup in the DIA and DIAA searches are meant to overlap. Two things -- 1. There are plenty players available that have DIA level talent and there should not be a 1-1 open scholarship to DIA level player relationship...recruiting would become more like a draft. 2. Just because a player appears in the DIAA search does not mean that he will be signed by a DIAA school....these are simply players that they *could* sign if the conditions are right.

Are you looking at implementing a longer non-conference schedule? If so, are you looking at a conference schedule where you'd play the five teams in your division and three of the teams in the other division (on a rotational basis)? (ddingo - Hall of Famer - 3:34 PM)

Since we just changed how the schedules work, we are going to go with them for a while and see how it goes.

will anything be implemented to let us know how our team practice time is paying off? for instance an IQ rating like HD has? (e_mandat - Hall of Famer - 3:35 PM)

A report on how your team is doing from your assistant coach is something that we are looking into.

Having a very good program, your potential recruits list includes players that fall in your divisional level, and the one above yours. Is that your programs limit, or can you still get recruits from the upper level that are not on your recruiting list? That are not being pursued by any upper divisional schools. (jeffkahleb - Hall of Famer - 3:37 PM)

If a recruit does not appear in your search results, you won't be able to sign him.

How exactly does Athleticsm effect running backs and linebackers (and all postitions really)? For example: if RB A has 40 more points combined in SPD and ELU but 40 less in ATH than RB B would RB A perform the same, worse or better than RB B all other things being equal? (cyphilissb - Hall of Famer - 3:40 PM)

Athleticism is kind of catch all rating...it adds to the others. A very athletic player with same elusiveness rating as a very unathletic player would in fact be more elusive within the game.

Do you have the statistics for the divorce rate for GD users? Is it above the national average? (jonas1102 - Hall of Famer - 3:41 PM)

Most likely....especially for those that get up in the middle of the night to recruit.

How much weight does a BCS win (non championship) carry when applying for new jobs? (jjbeverly - All-Star - 3:43 PM)

Actually, how a coach's success is measured within the game is something that we are currently working as part of the firings....it will carry a good amount of weight, but exactly how much is still being worked out.

What will you be naming the next World? May I suggest Osborne? (djgomez33 - Hall of Famer - 3:44 PM)

Warner

Will teams ever have control over there out of conference schedule? If so when? (stevehoggett - Hall of Famer - 3:45 PM)

This isn't something that we plan on doing at this time.

Defensively, Can I assume that there is no zone Defense and that the agressiveness is more aimed at the blitizing probability? (blackmink18 - Hall of Famer - 3:46 PM)

It is the blitzing probability, but it also effects the aggressiveness of your defense in general....trying to trip the ball instead of simply making a sound tackle or jumping the pass route to try and get the INT.

Will play-by-play results between two sim coached teams ever be made available? (hypnotoad - Hall of Famer - 3:47 PM)

I think this is currently available.....

Who is more valuable: an OLman with a 700 overall and 85-85-85 blocking/strength/tech; or an OLman with a 680 overall and a 90-90-90 blocking/strength/tech? Also, can we assume the same answer if you change "OLman" to "DLman" and "blocking" to "tackling"? (dave23 - Hall of Famer - 3:48 PM)

I would take the 680 guy just based on THOSE numbers....yes.

Are you planning on playing in all the worlds again? It was more fun when you played because it was like going up against Goliath! (greener10 - Hall of Famer - 3:50 PM)

Thanks, but no.

Crap you're right where the hell have I been .thx. (hypnotoad - Hall of Famer - 3:51 PM)

Out enjoying the weather?

Will recruiting ever be changed so that recruits will consider a school's style of play? i.e. a WR giving stronger consideration to a school with historically strong passing stats. (vichuck - Hall of Famer - 3:52 PM)

That is an interesting possibility....

Are wins in each division weighted equally? Or does winning 30 regular season games in DIA help a coach more than winning 30 regular season games in another division. (cyphilissb - Hall of Famer - 3:53 PM)

No, they are not weighted equally. A win at DIA>DIAA>DII>DIII.

Any plans for Admin to enter "The World's Strongest Man" competition in the near future? (cyphilissb - Hall of Famer - 3:53 PM)

Have you seen Admin?!

Will Rockne be sped up... a day less or so of recruiting to give it space from Camp. Or will Camp be delayed. The two worlds are too close together. (thad_moren - Hall of Famer - 3:54 PM)

I think the spacing is OK for now, so neither one will be moved.

In reference to ddingo and michfan's question about coaches making schedules and adding more non-conference games, don't you think it's hard for a coach to make a BCS Game with two non-BCS SIM AI opponents for non-conference? I've seen this situation too many times. (djgomez33 - Hall of Famer - 3:55 PM)

Honestly, yes, the non-conference schedule could hinder some teams at present....as DIA fills, I don't think this will go away though.

In that 700 rated 85-85-85 vs 680 rated 90-90-90 question, how, if at all, would a big GI advantage for the 700 guy equal out the key stat advantage? If the 700 guy had GI of 80 and the 680 had GI of 55, would picking the 680 still be a "no brainer"? Thanks. (therunner24 - Hall of Famer - 3:58 PM)

No, it wouldn't. Poor GI for a OL can cause penalties and missed assignments....just looking at those 4 ratings, the 700 guy becomes more attractive.

When will we do another Developer Chat? (cyphilissb - Hall of Famer - 4:00 PM)

I'm going to try to get on a schedule of doing 1 a month --- there have been a lot good questions asked and I haven't been able to get to all of them. If your question wasn't answered (sorry), look for the next chat sometime next month.
Thanks everyone and have a great day.

Thanks for taking the time to post your questions, comments and suggestions.